Experimental surgery I – Basic principles and procedures
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Understand legal aspects of invasive procedures on laboratory animals
2. Describe the most commonly applied experimental surgical techniques in the most common laboratory animals
3. Explain and account for the importance of hygiene in connection to surgical procedures
4. Apply aseptic techniques in connection to surgical procedures
5. Apply basic surgical procedures on rats
6. Independently take responsibility to implement and further develop practical skills in the performance of basic experimental surgery
Content
The aim of the course is to give the participants a basic knowledge and training in experimental surgery on small laboratory animals (in particular murine models).
The course adheres to module 22 in the European Commission Framework for Education and Training under the Directive 2010/63/EU, and thus covers the required content to cover the specific learning outcomes for this module: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/fca9ae7f-2554-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1
Theoretical content: Legal aspects of invasive procedures on laboratory animals; anaesthesia and analgesia of laboratory animals; surgical instruments and techniques; common surgical procedures on laboratory animals; hygiene, asepsis, and post-surgical treatment.
Practical content: Application and monitoring of anaesthesia in rats; practice in basic surgical procedures on rats, hereunder castration, vasectomy and various ectomies.
Participants
The course is directed to PhD-students, but also to other academics and technical staff, performing animal experimental procedures involving surgical techniques.
The participants shall have passed a course in laboratory animal science for at least functions A and D according to Directive 2010/63/EU, Article 23.2 (formerly FELASA C or B courses), or have similar qualifications.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
- All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
E-lectures, live lectures, seminar discussions, demonstrations and practical hands-on exercises
Workload:
E-lectures and other self-studies – 6 h
Live lectures, seminar and demonstration – 4 h
Practical hands-on – 20 h
Course director
Klas Abelson, Professor, Department of Experimental Medicine, klasab@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Klas Abelson, Professor, PhD
Nicole Gutman, DVM
Heidi Stjerne Tingleff, DVM
Karsten Hammelev, DVM
Daniel Kylmann Hansen, Animal technician
Other experts in the field
Dates
10-12 September 2025
Course location
Panum Building, Blegdamsvej 3B
Registration
Please register before 20 August 2025
Expected frequency
The course runs four times a year.
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.